Game On, Pretty Boy. ♕ RUCAS

♕ Chapter ThirtyFour ♕ - Christmas Party, Part Two

Lucas' POV

The laughter and chatter filled the room where we were seated by the dining table. My eyes wander to look at Zay – his eyes were shining and he had that big smile still plastered on his face as he looked at his parents in awe.

Mrs and Mr. Babineaux. Best friends since kindergarten and lovers since high school. Cliché? Perhaps. But you can't deny that they were a perfect fit together. Mr. Babineaux joined the military almost immediately after finishing high school and Mrs. Babineaux went off to college. Back in Texas when me and Zay used to have sleepovers at his place, his mom would tell us stories about back in their days. The two of them got married before he was sent to Vietnam and they would write letters to each other back and forth. Her eyes were filled with longing while telling us about how long they would be apart, her worrying about if he would be on the personnel board bus that would pull up at the mobilization center where she would be waiting for him. But oh how her eyes got filled with the brightest light when she got to that part of the story where she sees him stepping outside of the bus.

"I want to make a toast." Mr. Babineaux's voice made me slightly shake my head and turn it to meet his eyes. Zay had his features. The same brown eyes and their smiles were similar. Wide and toothy.

"I'm happy to be back home," he starts, holding his wife's hand and rubbing it lightly, "together with my beautiful family. My wife," he gives her a long look and leans in to give her a small kiss on her forehead before turning his attention towards Zay and myself "and my sons."

A smile formed itself on my lips. My sons.

He tilts his head a little bit and sighs. "Zay, Lucas," he continues, "I'm proud of you. You are both growing up to be strong and amazing men." He looks over at Zay, his eyes glowing and chuckles. "My dear son, thank you for taking care of your mother when I'm not around," his eyes become more glassy, tears forming, "I wish I didn't have to put so much responsibility on your shoulders, but you have always managed it."

Zay gives him a reassuring smile. "I love you dad," and then he looks over at his mom that was sitting next to him, grabbing a hold of her free hand, "I love you mom."

"And Lucas," he turns his eyes in my direction to where I was seated in front of Mrs. Babineaux, "you've always been a part of our family, son," he sends me a smile, "and I couldn't be more thankful to have you here with us."

I give him a smile back. "Thank you, sir. I'm thankful to be included in your family."

"You're my brother, Lukey." Zay pipes in with a chuckle.

"A son to us." Mrs. Babineaux continues, smiling.

"To our family." Mr. Babineaux says, raising his glass half way in the air and we all join him, raising our glasses, clicking them together and taking a sip from the drinks.

–

"No, Lucas, dear," Mrs. Babineaux runs up from behind me, grabbing a hold of the sponge that I had in my hand, ready to wash dishes, "please, we have a dishwasher for the sole reason of using it, don't we?"

I chuckle and heave a sigh. "I know, I know, but I don't mind." I say as I try to grab the sponge from her hand.

She swiftly withdrawals the sponge away from my grab and gives me a warning look. "Lucas. No."

I roll my eyes and put my hands up in surrender with pursed lips. "Fine." She smiles and I raise my eyebrow at her. "But just so you know, I wouldn't mind doing it."

She nods and puts the sponge back in its place, giving me a half hug from the side. "I know, dear, but you've helped enough."

"It's the least I can do."